Microsoft Windows7 Downloads with a Valid License

If you don’t have your Windows 7 disc handy—but want to create a custom installation,run Windows from a USB drive or do a fresh install—you’ll need an ISO file of the disc. You used to be able to download ISO Images from Digital Rivers but those links no longer work. Now, Microsoft has a Software Recovery Center where you can download those similar images for free.

This isn’t piracy you still need a valid Windows license to download the ISO and register Windows. If you purchased a retail version of Windows, enter the product key from the package. Unfortunately this DOES NOT work with the COA copies of Windows 7. These copies usually means the manufacture has stamped a Certificate of Authenticity sticker to the bottom of your hardware with a Windows 7 product key. Usually this is done when you purchased  a computer. Sometimes I have found these to be beneath the battery. For retail purchases of the Operating System, once Microsoft confirms your product key, you can download Windows and use the Windows 7 USB Download Tool to put it on a thumb drive. Their download center can be found here. For windows 8.1 users it can be found here.

If your computer came with Windows hopefully you have created your recovery media which is usually recommended first thing after you buy your new computer. If you did not create the disc you’ll probably need to borrow a disc from someone or purchase it from the manufacture and use your product key when you re-install.

The manufactures now charge a fee for this media which they use to ship for free.

Below are some of the common manufactures in case you need to order media.

Lenovo – https://www.lenovorecovery.com/Extranet/Questions.aspx

HP/Compaq – http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bph07143

Toshiba – https://support.toshiba.com/repair

Dell – http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/media

Gateway – http://us-store.gateway.com/rcd/